Our funds have been set up by our donors and each has its own purpose, priorities and eligibility criteria. Most funds support locally based community and voluntary organisations, and some also support individuals.

Before applying, we strongly encourage you to read the guidance the fund you are interested in. If you are unsure whether your idea is eligible, our grants team is happy to help — you can call us on 01900 825760.

How to apply
All applications are now made through our online application portal.

To apply, you will need to:

• Complete the online application form
• Upload the required supporting documents listed in the form

You can:

• Start or resume an application by logging into the portal here 
• View the general group application questions in advance here 
• Read our step‑by‑step portal help guide here

Completed applications and all supporting documents must be submitted by the relevant application deadline. Please check application deadline dates carefully before starting your application.

What happens next?
Once submitted, applications are checked for eligibility and assessed against the fund’s priorities. Some applications are reviewed by a grants panel, while others may be decided by a donor, advisory group or our Senior Leadership Team, depending on the fund and size of funding request.

Our overall success rate is around 86%, although this varies by programme and year depending on the funds available. This figure includes applications that are withdrawn before a final decision. Common reasons include:

• The project not meeting the fund criteria
• A change in plans by the applicant
• Further assessment showing the project is not a strong fit with the fund priorities
• Concerns about governance or long‑term sustainability

Where applications are not successful at panel stage, this is often because funding is limited and other applications are a stronger match to the programme priorities.

A chart explaining our grant application process is shown below.

Need help?
If you have problems accessing the portal or submitting your application, please email grants@cumbriafoundation.org or call 01900 825760 and we will support you.

You can also find more detailed guidance on our How to Apply page.